Steam-cooker.



P. 0. RGBERTS. STEAM COOKER.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 30, 1908.

931,088. Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig.1.-

WI IVES SE5 IN VEN TOR Ferdinand C. Roberts A TTORNE VS F. 0. ROBERTS.STEAM GOOKER.

. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1908.

93 1,088. I I Patented Aug, 17, 1909' s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig. 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Mam Ferdinand C Roberts fiflfl/ By 921 ATTORNEYS F.U. ROBERTS. STEAM COOKER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 190B.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

FERDINAND O. ROBERTS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

STEAM-COOKER.

Application filed November 30, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND 0. Ronnnrs, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Cookers, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a cooker for fruit, vegetables or the like,adapted either to force steam from the interior of the article to becooked to its exterior, or to otherwise steam it in the usual way.

One of the objects of the invention is to dispose the parts so that whenthey are assembled they form a steam tight chamber without the use ofspecial clamping means, and at the same time, are readily disconnectedwhen desired. Another feature is the arrangement of condensin surfaceswhereby the juices from the cooking article may be readily trapped andwithdrawn at will.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a deviceembodying features of the invention, arranged for the ordinary processof steaming and provided with a direct steam pipe connection. Fig. 2 isa view in vertical central section through the device, showing itarranged for forcing steam from the interior of a vegetable or fruit toits exterior and for generating its own steam. Fig. 3 is an enlargedview in section, in detail of a steam tube cap. Fig. 4: is an enlargedview in section in detail of a steam nipple pipe connection. Fig. 5 is aview partially in elevation and partially in section, of the cooker,provided with a different arrangement of the steam exhaust, and arrangedfor steaming articles in vessels. Fig. 6 is a view in detail of a drainshelf. Fig. 7 is a plan view in detail of a basket for use with thesteamer.

Referring to the drawings, a suitable reservoir 1 with conical ortapering side wall 2 is adapted either to rest on a tripod 3 or likesuitable standard, or on its own base, as in Fig. 2. A central taperedtube 4 extending well up into the reservoir, may be closed by a nipple 5terminating a steam pipe 6 connected to a suitable steam generator, orit may be sealed by a cap 7 adapted to be seated on it, when thereservoir may be filled Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

Serial No. 465,056.

with Water and by proper application of heat generate its own steam.

A cover 8 of considerably greater diameter than the top of thereservoir, with wide rim 9, has a depending flange 10 adapted totelescope with the reservoir wall 2, the parts being arranged so that aclose joint is formed without allowing the lower edge 11 of the flangeto rest on the projecting base 12. A drain cook 13 is secured to andopens through the projecting portion of the cover.

A plurality of tubular ferrules 14 are secured in the cover, extendingwell up therefrom to prevent return of condensed vapors therethroughinto the reservoir. Perforated cylinders 15 each adapted to be thrustinto the body of a fruit or vegetable, and provided with a removable cap16 sealing the upper end, may be secured on the ferrules. A perforateddraining shelf 17 is supported loosely on the cover at an intervaltherefrom by a properly arranged rim 18 or other like means. A bell jar19 rests on the cover, and, in the preferred form of apparatus, may beraised or lowered over it by a stem 20 extending through a boss 21 on anarched frame 22 secured as by brackets 23 on the reservoir base, a thumbnut 24 holding the bell in any position desired. The stem 20 ispreferably tubular with an outlet or steam vent 25 disposed as in Fig.2, or at its upper end, as in Fig. 5, or in other desired position. Acage 26 for holding articles to be steamed in the usual way, is likewiseprovided, as are cups 27 In the operation of steaming fruit or the likeby forcing steam from the interior outwardly, the articles to be cookedare cored and impaled on the cylinders which are thus placed on theferrules of the cover which is in place on the reservoir. The bell islowered and either steam introduced through the central reservoir tube,or else generated in the reservoir and thereby forced through thearticles on the perforated tubes.

If used as an ordinary steamer, the perforated tubes are removed and thefood to be cooked is placed on the draining shelf either in the cage orbasket, in the cups or as desired. By this arrangement, a steam tightjoint is obtained between the cover flange and reservoir wall as theflange first slips down until measurably tight, and the reservoir wallthen expands when heated by the steam while the outer cover flange incontact with the air does not expand as much. When the bell is raisedand the steam allowed to dissipate, the shrinking of the reservoir wallallows the parts to be easily slipped apart.

The wide extension of the cover beyond the reservoir wall forms an aircooled surface on which the vaporized fruit'or vegetable juices condenseand are drawn off through the drain cook, the central part of the coverre-heating and re-vaporizing them and throwtubes removably secured inthe openings, a

bell jar on the cover over the tubes, a frame surmounting the bell jar,and a hollow stem extending as a steam vent from the bell toplongitudinally reciprocable in the frame, the cover being adapted topresent a wide air cooled surface outside the reservoir walls.

2. A steam cooker comprising a reservoir open at the top with convergentside walls, a

cover having a flange adapted to telescopically engage the reservoirwalls, and steam openings within the flange, perforated steam tubesremovably secured in the openings, a

bell jar on the cover over the tubes, a frame surmounting the bell jar,a hollow stem eX- tending as a steam vent from the bell toplongltudmally reciprocable in the frame, and

a tubular inlet through the base of the reservoir, the cover beingadapted to present a wide air cooled surface outside the reservoirwalls.

3. A steam cooker comprising a reservoir open at the top with convergentside walls, a cover having a-flange adapted to telescopically engage thereservoir walls and to form a steam tight joint therewith when thereservoir is interiorly heated, and steam openings within the flange,perforated steam tubes removably secured in the openings, a bell jar onthe cover over the tubes, a frame surmounting the bell jar, and a hollowstem eX- tending as a steam vent from the bell top longitudinallyreciprocable in the frame, the cover being adapted to present a wide aircooled surface outside the reservoir walls.

4. A steam cooker comprising a reservoir open at the top with convergentside walls, a cover having a flange adapted to telescopically engage thereservoir walls and steam openings within the flange, perforated steamtubes removably secured in the openings, a bell jar on the cover overthe tubes, a frame surmounting the bell jar, a hollow stem extending asa steam vent from the bell top longitudinally reciprocable in the frame,the cover being adapted to present a wide air cooled surface outside thereservoir walls, and a drain through the cover in its air cooled zone.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

V FERDINAND C. ROBERTS.

Witnesses O; R. STIOKNEY, OTTo F. BARTHEL.

